Skip to main content
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry logoLink to Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
. 1976 Jan;39(1):66–76. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.39.1.66

Gliomas (astrocytomas) of the brain-stem with spinal intra- and extradural metastases: report of three cases.

J J Kepes, C M Striebinger, C E Brackett, P Kishore
PMCID: PMC492217  PMID: 1255215

Abstract

Astrocytomas of the pons and medulla oblongata ('brain-stem gliomas') while often invasive locally, do not as a rule seed and metastasize along the spinal meninges. Three cases are here reported (two adults, one child) in whom astrocytoma of the brain-stem metastasized along the spinal cord. The dura mater itself and the spinal epidural space were invaded in two cases. The child and one adult had a pontine astrocytoma, the other adult's tumour originated in the medulla oblongata. In the two cases that came to necropsy the tumour of the brain-stem was much better differentiated than the meningeal deposits. These three cases suggest that the possibility of spinal spread of brain-stem gliomas should be considered when dealing with diagnostic and therapeutic problems of such patients.

Full text

PDF
66

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BARNETT H. J., HYLAND H. H. Tumours involving the brain-stem; a study of 90 cases arising in the brain-stem, fourth ventricle, and pineal tissue. Q J Med. 1952 Jul;21(83):265–284. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. BRAY P. F., CARTER S., TAVERAS J. M. Brainstem tumors in children. Neurology. 1958 Jan;8(1):1–7. doi: 10.1212/wnl.8.1.1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. COOPER I. S., KERNOHAN J. W., CRAIG W. M. Tumors of the medulla oblongata. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry. 1952 Mar;67(3):269–282. doi: 10.1001/archneurpsyc.1952.02320150002001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Golden G. S., Ghatak N. R., Hirano A., French J. H. Malignant glioma of the brain-stem. A clinicopathological analysis of 13 cases. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1972 Oct;35(5):732–738. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.35.5.732. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Lassiter K. R., Alexander E., Jr, Davis C. H., Jr, Kelly D. L., Jr Surgical treatment of brain stem gliomas. J Neurosurg. 1971 Jun;34(6):719–725. doi: 10.3171/jns.1971.34.6.0719. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Lassman L. P., Arjona V. E. Pontine gliomas of childhood. Lancet. 1967 Apr 29;1(7496):913–915. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(67)91485-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Panitch H. S., Berg B. O. Brain stem tumors of childhood and adolescence. Am J Dis Child. 1970 Jun;119(6):465–472. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1970.02100050467001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. ROTH J. G., ELVIDGE A. R. Glioblastoma multiforme: a clinical survey. J Neurosurg. 1960 Jul;17:736–750. doi: 10.3171/jns.1960.17.4.0736. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Rubinstein L. J., Herman M. M., Hanbery J. W. The relationship between differentiating medulloblastoma and dedifferentiating diffuse cerebellar astrocytoma. Light, electron microscopic, tissue, and organ culture observations. Cancer. 1974 Mar;33(3):675–690. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(197403)33:3<675::aid-cncr2820330312>3.0.co;2-e. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. WHITE H. H. Brain stem tumors occurring in adults. Neurology. 1963 Apr;13:292–300. doi: 10.1212/wnl.13.4.292. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES